Prospection of potential cellulase producing filamentous fungi from corn silage

Abstract

The prospection of filamentous fungi is essential for understanding fungal biodiversity and exploring its potential in biotechnological processes. Among its applications, cellulase production stands out; it is used for clarifying juice, reducing food viscosity, and producing fermentable sugars from plant residues. This study soughr to isolate filamentous fungi from corn silage samples collected in Gouveia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, using three methods: direct contact, dilution, and pour plate. The isolation was performed on a solid culture medium containing carboxymethylcellulose at 30 °C, with monitoring of the plates for seven days. Eleven filamentous fungi were isolated, all obtained by the pour plate method. Once isolated, spot transfers were performed, and the microorganisms were maintained at 30 °C for macromorphological characterization after eight days. The results showed primarily velvety-textured mycelia with a smooth surface, regular edges, flat topography, white mycelium color, and a dry appearance. Regarding enzymatic activity, halos of up to 27 mm were observed in some samples, indicating potential cellulase production. Given the diversity of the characteristics, it was concluded that there is a plurality of isolated filamentous fungi with potential for cellulolytic enzyme production.